Holder for an electrochemical process substrate

ABSTRACT

A holder for an electrochemical process substrate includes a support member having a pair of separated substrate mounts adapted for mounting a process substrate there between, the support member including a separate trough operatively associated with each substrate mount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a process substrate.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority for U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/550,169, filed Mar. 4, 2004 and entitled HOLDERFOR AN ELECTROCHEMICAL PROCESS SUBSTRATE.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a holder for supporting anelectromolecular process, and in particular to such a holder adapted tooperate in a high voltage electric field.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention pertains to device for supporting an electromolecularprocess for exciting a chemical species to achieve mobility fororientating, repositioning and transporting the species and forseparation among species achieved by operation at the appropriateconductivity range of the media and especially within the semiconductiverange when induced by means of intense electrical fields at or nearminimum and optimum current levels. Such a process can use a liquidmedium which further complicates the safe and useful application of ahigh voltage electric field.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment a holder for an electrochemical process substrateincludes a support member having a pair of separated substrate mountsadapted for mounting a process substrate there between; and the supportmember including a separate trough operatively associated with eachsubstrate mount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a processsubstrate. The process substrate may be a porous material, and it may beeither flexible or rigid and include a separate wicking element locatedfor placement in each trough. Each substrate mount may include a topelement adapted to be located above a respective trough and adapted formaintaining a portion of a porous material within the respective trough.Each top element may include a portion adapted for extending into arespective trough for biasing a flexible portion of a process substrateinto the respective trough. Each top element may include one or moreopenings adapted to direct a portion of a process substrate into arespective trough when said top element is located above said trough.The top elements may be adapted to be located and co-aligned directlyover said troughs.

The top element and the support member each may include complementarymagnetic elements adapted for maintaining the top elements in locationabove said troughs. The complementary magnetic elements in the topelements and the support member may both be magnetized.

The support member may include one or more elongated channels extendinghorizontally and adapted for allowing support and movement of theholder. The one or more elongated channels may extend perpendicularly toa direction directly between said substrate mounts

The holder may further include a separate electrical contact operativelyassociated with each trough and having a portion thereof located withina respective trough. The electrical contacts may include a connectorextending from a side of said support member and being adapted to makecontact with a complementary connector with movement of the holder in adirection of the one or more elongated channels.

The support member may include a support element extending upwardly to ahorizontal imaginary plane between the substrate mounts for supporting aprocess substrate at one or more intermediate points between thesubstrate mounts.

Each trough may include a first portion adapted for receiving a portionof the process substrate and a second portion adapted for containing aportion of an electrical contact, and the first and second troughportions may be adapted to allow liquid flow there between.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustratively shown and described in referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support member constituting oneelement of the current disclosure;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are side and bottom views, respectively, of a topelement used in conjunction with the support member of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a holder for an electrochemicalprocess substrate including the support member of FIG. 1 and the topelement of FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a support member for an electrochemicalprocess substrate constructed in accordance with another embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a top view of support member of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the exploded elements of anelectrochemical process substrate holder constructed in accordance withyet another embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the holder of FIG. 6 having its theelements assembled for use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 3 should be viewed in combination. FIG. 3 shows aside sectional view of a holder 10 for an electrochemical processsubstrate, which holder 10 generally includes a support member 12, alsoshown in FIG. 1, and a pair of top elements 14 a, 14 b, also shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. FIG. 3 further shows an electrochemical processsubstrate 16 operatively installed on holder 10. Holder 10 is typicallyused for the electrical separation of the elements of a compound whilethe compound is dissolved or suspended in a reagent liquid.

Support member 12 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 1 and generallyincludes a pair of electrochemical reagent troughs 18 a, 18 b. Troughs18 a, 18 b are used in combination with top elements 14 a, 14 b to forma pair of separated substrate mounts 20 a, 20 b (FIG. 3) for supportingelectrochemical process substrate 16. Troughs 18 a, 18 b each include afirst portion or reagent reservoir 22 a, 22 b, and a second portion 24a, 24 b, respectively. Troughs 18 a, 18 b are adapted for liquidcommunication between first portions 22 a, 22 b and second portions 24a, 24 b by means of one or more channels 26 a, 26 b, respectively,located there between. First trough portions 22 a, 22 b serve asreservoirs for reagent liquid and as an electrical connection point torespective electrical contacts (shown and described in reference to FIG.5). Second trough portions 24 a, 24 b function to receive end portions16 a, 16 b of process substrate 16 and thereby physically connectprocess substrate 16 to the liquid reagent from first trough portions 22a, 22 b.

As mentioned, top elements 14 a, 14 b function in combination withsecond trough portions 24 a, 24 b to form a pair of separated substratemounts 20 a, 20 b. This mounting is accomplished by extension 30 a, 30 bwhich are adapted to extend from respective top elements 14 a, 14 b intosecond trough portions 24 a, 24 b and thereby retain flexible endportions 16 a, 16 b of process substrate 16.

Top elements 14 a, 14 b are adapted to be maintained in the location ofFIG. 3, above and directly over their respective second trough portions24 a, 24 b, by a pair of complementary magnetic elements 32 a, 32 b(FIGS. 1 and 2B), respectively located in support member 12 and topelements 14 a, 14 b. Complementary magnetic elements may be jointlymagnetized to save weight or they may be singularly magnetized.

Support member 12 further includes a multiplicity of support elementswhich extend to the imaginary plane represented by process substrate 16to thereby provide support to such substrate. FIG. 3 shows a centralsupport element 36 and a pair of side supports 38 a, 38 b. Supportmember 12 and support elements 36, 38 a, 38 b may further include acentral recess or cutout portion 40 a, 40 b, 40 c, respectively toaccommodate a further glass slide support for reagent substrate 16. Thelocation of support elements 36, 38 a, 38 b provides holder 10 withflexibility in that compounds to be separated may be placed over aparticular support element 36, 38 a, 38 b depending upon how they willseparate in relation to electrical polarity. Thus, separation in asingle direction (positive or negative) is accommodated by the use ofsupport element 38 a or 38 b, and unknown or bi-directional separationis accommodated by support element 36.

Process substrate 16 may be formed by any suitable material having aporous element. In the case of a rigid material, flexible wickingmaterial 16 a, 16 b is attached to opposing ends for insertion intosecond trough portions 24 a, 24 b. For example, substrate 16 may be aflexible fiber such as paper or any non-porous material having a porouscoating or porous layer. The non-porous material may be rigid, such asglass, or it may be flexible, such as a plastic film. Such a non-porousmaterial is preferably an electrical insulator.

Support member 12 further includes one or more channels 42 a, 42 blocated in lower surface 44 of support member 12 to allow support ofmember 12 by a complementary element. Channels 42 a, 42 b are directedperpendicularly to the direction between substrate amounts 20 a, 20 b,which arrangement allows for movement and electrical connection ofholder 10 in a manner suitable for the handling of liquid reagent. Thismovement and mounting is discussed in greater detail below in referenceto FIG. 5. Channels 42 a, 42 b receive horizontally oriented rods 46 a46 b, respectively, for providing such support, although any suitableelements and complementary shapes may be used for channels 42 a, 42 b.The use of a pair of support rods minimizes the electrical hazard byreducing the amount of upwardly facing surface area upon which reagentliquid can condense or flow and support electrical conductivity.

FIG. 4 shows a support member 50 constructed in a manner similarly tosupport member 12 of FIG. 1. Support member 50 generally includes thesame troughs 18 a, 18 b, magnetic elements 32 a, support element 36,recesses or cutouts 40 a, 40 c, and channels 42 a, 42 b. Support member50 is intended for use with top elements 14 a, 14 b (FIGS. 2A and 2B)and with rigid or glass slides.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of support member 50 and specifically showselectrical contacts 52 a, 52 b located in the respective first troughportions 22 a, 22 b. Electrical contacts 52 a, 52 b are generallylocated along the bottom of their respective first trough portions 22 a,22 b and rise at one end 54 a, 54 b to pass through support member 50,as represented by phantom lines 56 a, 56 b, respectively, and couple toexternal electrical plugs 58 a, 58 b, respectively.

Also shown in phantom are channels 42 a, 42 b running perpendicularly tothe direction between troughs 18 a, 18 b. In this manner, support member50 may be moved along a pair of support rods 46 a, 46 b in the directionof arrows 60 to conveniently allow the coupling of insulating electricalplugs 58 a, 58 b to complementary connectors while minimizing the riskof spilling liquid reagent located in first trough portions 22 a, 22 b.The support member 12 of FIGS. 1 and 3, as well as support member 50both include this electrical connection.

The above-described arrangement of the process substrate 16 extendingperpendicularly to channels 42 a, 42 b and support rods 46 a, 46 benables the holder 10 to safely function across a high voltage potentialcoupled through plugs 58 a, 58 b. An additional electrical safetyfeature resides in the side 62 from which plugs 58 a, 58 b extend. Side62 is indented along central portion 64, on both support members 12, 50,to avoid the formation of a single flat surface (even a vertical one)extending between plugs 58 a, 58 b.

FIGS. 6 and 7 should be viewed in combination as different perspectiveviews of the same holder 70. FIG. 6 shows holder 70 with respectivesupport member 72 and top elements 74 a, 74 b in an exploded view, whileFIG. 7 shows top elements 74 a, 74 b properly installed in combinationwith support member 72. Top elements 74 a, 74 b are retained in positionon support member 72 by complementary magnetic elements 76 a, 76 b whichmay be either jointly or singularly magnetized. Top elements 74 a, 74 binclude substantially horizontal portions 80 a, 80 b, respectively, eachhaving a pair of through slots 82 a, 84 a and 82 b, 84 b, respectively,through which a porous material may be threaded. Slots 82 a, 82 b, arelocated directly above troughs 86 a, 86 b, respectively, to allow aporous material to extend directly into troughs 86 a, 86 b. Such aporous material acts as a wicking member for a process substrate havingan additional porous layer otherwise supported by member 72. Troughs 86a, 86 b would likewise include an electrical contacts (such as 52 a, 52b, 56 a, 56 b, 58 a, 58 b, shown in FIG. 5).

Support member 70 further includes support elements 36, 38 a, 38 b toassist in supporting the process substrate along with the recess orcutout sections 40 a, 40 b, 40 c to allow the use of a glass or rigidslide to provide additional support to a process substrate.

All of the materials used to construct the holders 10, 70 and supportmember 50 are intended to be chemically inactive or resistive toreaction with the various solvents used. Holders 10, 70 and supportmember 50 may be constructed from any suitable material such as, forexample, TEFLON, KELEF, polypropylene, polyethylene, ceramic, glass orthe like. The electrical contacts are likewise made of suitablematerials such as noble metals including gold, platinum and platinumalloys.

The present invention is illustratively described above in reference tothe disclosed embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be madeto the disclosed embodiments by persons skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention as defined in theappended claims.

1. A holder for an electrochemical process substrate, comprising: asupport member including a pair of separated substrate mounts adaptedfor mounting a process substrate there between; and said support memberincluding a separate trough operatively associated with each substratemount and adapted for receiving an end portion of a process substrate.2. The holder of claim 1, wherein each substrate mount includes a topelement adapted to be located above a respective trough and adapted formaintaining a portion of a process substrate within said respectivetrough.
 3. The holder of claim 2, wherein each top element includes aportion adapted for extending into a respective trough for biasing aflexible portion of a process substrate into said respective trough. 4.The holder of claim 2, wherein each top element includes one or moreopenings adapted to direct a portion of a wicking material into arespective trough when said top element is located above said trough. 5.The holder of claim 2, wherein said top elements are adapted to belocated directly over said troughs.
 6. The holder of claim 2, whereinsaid top element and said support member each includes complementarymagnetic elements adapted for maintaining said top elements in locationabove said troughs.
 7. The holder of claim 6, wherein said complementarymagnetic elements in said top elements and said support member are bothmagnetized.
 8. The holder of claim 1, wherein said support memberincludes one or more elongated channels extending horizontally andadapted for allowing support and movement of said holder.
 9. The holderof claim 8, wherein said one or more elongated channels extendperpendicularly to a direction directly between said substrate mounts.10. The holder of claim 1, further comprising a separate electricalcontact operatively associated with each trough and having a portionthereof located within a respective trough.
 11. The holder of claim 10,wherein at least one of said electrical contacts includes a connectorextending from a side of said support member and being adapted to makecontact with a complementary connector with movement of said holderperpendicular to a direction between said substrate mounts.
 12. Theholder of claim 1, wherein said support member includes a supportelement extending upwardly to a horizontal imaginary plane between saidsubstrate mounts for supporting a process substrate at one or moreintermediate points between said substrate mounts.
 13. The holder ofclaim 1, wherein the process substrate includes porous material.
 14. Theholder of claim 1, wherein the process substrate is rigid and includes aseparate wicking element located for placement in each said trough. 15.The holder of claim 1, wherein each trough includes a first portionadapted for receiving a portion of said process substrate and a secondportion adapted for containing a portion of an electrical contact, andfurther wherein said first and second trough portions are adapted toallow liquid flow there between.
 16. The holder of claim 1, wherein saidsubstrate mounts and said support element are shaped to receive a rigidprocess substrate.